Adverse weather conditions impacting South Africa this past week have led to yet another large container vessel losing as many as 99 containers off the east coast of South Africa, according to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
August 19, 2024
by The Editorial Team
https://safety4sea.com/cma-cgm-vessel-loses-99-containers-in-south-african-storm/
In response, a navigational warning to sailing vessels has been issued and a public call made to report any sighting of the cargo containers possibly still floating at sea.
In a statement at the weekend SAMSA confirmed that: “The CMA
CGM BELEM, a container ship sailing under the Maltese flag, encountered severe
weather off the coast of Richards Bay last night (Thursday), resulting in a
significant stow collapse and a loss of 99 containers.
The vessel had initially sought refuge at Maputo Bay.
However, after further assessment, the decision was made to redirect the ship
to Qheberha. The CMA CGM BELEM is currently slow steaming towards Port of
Ngqura, with an expected time of arrival on 18 August 2024.
According to SAMSA, the vessel, built in 2024, measures 336
meters in length, 51 meters in height, and has a draft of 14.8 meters.
Notably, the CMA CGM BELEM is the second vessel of this type
from the French company Compagnie Maritime d’Affrètement (CMA) and Compagnie
Générale Maritime to suffer significant container losses due to severe weather
while navigating the Indian Ocean off South Africa.
A month ago, the ultra large container vessel CMA CGM
Benjamin Franklin, also Maltese flagged, reportedly lost up to 40 containers in
about the same region of the South African Indian Ocean area, while also
sailing past the country from Asia to Europe.
Due to its size, it also had to take cover at the deep water
port of Ngqurha in Algoa Bay near Gqeberha, Eastern Cape both for shelter as
well as an adjustment of its cargo load for the rest of the journey to Europe.
A few days later, having been cleared by SAMSA to sail, it departed South
Africa, while a search for its lost containers remained alive.
In Pretoria on Saturday, SAMSA said the CMA CGM Belem was
also a sizeable vessel best likely to be temporarily, safely berthed at the
Eastern Cape’s newest deep water port in Algoa Bay.
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